Perry May Be Addition Ducks Need Heading into Game 4

With the Anaheim Ducks finding new motivation in Game 3 they may have an even better reason to be successful in Game 4 in Dallas tonight. His name is Corey Perry, a long time line-mate of Ryan Getzlaf and the Ducks leading scorer throughout the season. It has taken six weeks for Perry to return from a lacerated tendon in his right knee from the skate of Colorado goal tender Jose Theodore. The all-star returns to the lineup tonight, for his first playoff appearance of the season, to help his Ducks face the Dallas Stars who hold a 2-1 series lead.

“It’s getting better every day,” Perry said when asked about the injury, “I'm ready to move on, get it over with, and get back in the lineup."

Although Carlyle, the Ducks head coach, has commented that Perry would be "eased in," any fan knows with their backs still against the wall the Ducks need Perry's scoring touch.

Something else for Ducks fans to look forward to in Game 4 is the pairing of Scott Niedermayer and Chris Pronger. Not only are they two of the best defensemen in the league but also among the best defensemen in the NHL. In Game 3 Pronger recorded two goals that helps add to the Ducks victory. The rest of the pairings are expected to be the same as Game 3 for Anaheim.

As of Wednesday, April 16th, Forward Rob Niedermayer still had not flown from Orange County to Dallas due to concussion-like symptoms and is not expected to play with the team in Game 4.

Carlyle admitted he didn’t know if there was a flight scheduled for him. “I haven’t asked our medical staff yet, but I will,” he said. “I would suspect that if he is traveling here, it is tonight. (4/16) But I haven’t heard anything yet.”

The Ducks look to even up the series against the Dallas Stars Thursday, April 17th at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. Game 4 begins at 5:00pm Pacific and will be broadcast on FSN - Prime in Southern California, and KDFI Channel 27 in Dallas.